Installation of Subsea Risers

ABSTRACT

A method of installing a subsea riser includes placing an elongate negatively-buoyant support on the seabed and, when laying the riser on the seabed, guiding a riser portion onto the support to extend along and be cradled by the support. A hogbend region of the riser is then formed by conferring positive buoyancy on the support to lift the support and the riser portion away from the seabed. An element of the support includes a riser support disposed in a longitudinally extending open-ended gap between buoyancy volumes disposed on opposite sides of the gap. Coupling formations such as hinge portions can couple the element to a like element. When so coupled, the gaps of those elements align to define an upwardly opening, longitudinally extending groove to receive the riser.

This invention relates to the installation of subsea risers. Theinvention relates particularly to installing risers that have anintermediate reverse-curvature profile defining a hogbend, such aslazy-wave risers.

A subsea riser connects a pipeline on the seabed to the surface fortransporting a fluid between those locations. In particular, productionfluids containing oil and/or gas flow up the riser to a surfaceinstallation such as a platform or a floating production, storage andoffloading (FPSO) vessel. Reciprocally, fluids such as water orchemicals may flow down the riser in one or more parallel pipes tosupport subsea oil and gas production. Power and data cables may alsoextend along the riser to power, control and monitor subseainstallations.

Several riser architectures or configurations are known in the art anddescribed in standards adopted by the subsea oil and gas industry, forexample in Det Norske Veritas' Offshore Standard DNV-OS-F201 entitledDynamic Risers. The selection of a riser configuration involves atrade-off between various factors, notably: catenary weight; seadynamics, including currents; fatigue; materials; water depth;installation method; flowrate; and cost.

FIGS. 1a to 1f depict various known riser configurations. In eachexample, a riser 10 is shown extending from the seabed 12 to the surface14, where the riser terminates at a FPSO vessel 16.

FIG. 1a shows the riser 10 in the form of a free-hanging catenary, whichis the simplest, least expensive and easiest riser configuration toinstall. However, in deep water, the top tension is high due to thelength and hence the weight of the riser 10 that is suspended betweenthe vessel 16 and the seabed 12. Also, a free-hanging catenary issusceptible to damage due to motion of the vessel 16 driven by seadynamics. The risk of damage is especially high around the touch-downpoint or TDP 18 of the riser 10, between the suspended portion of theriser 10 and the remainder of the riser 10 that lies on the seabed 12.

For these reasons, an S-configuration or wave-configuration riser may bepreferred over a free-hanging catenary in some situations. FIGS. 1b to1f exemplify such riser configurations. In each case, a portion of theriser 10 is lifted at an intermediate location between the seabed 12 andthe surface 14 to adopt an upwardly-facing convex reversed curvaturethat defines a hogbend 20. The intermediate support applied to thehogbend 20 reduces the top tension and helps to decouple the TDP 18 ofthe riser 10 from motion of the vessel 16.

S-configurations or wave configurations may be adopted for rigid risersfabricated from steel pipe or of composite pipe, but are preferablyadopted for flexible risers made of flexible pipe. In this respect,whilst rigid risers have flexibility to bend along their length, theymust not be confused with risers of flexible pipe as that term isunderstood in the art. Unbonded flexible pipe (often abbreviated simplyas flexible pipe) is characterised by a layered composite structure thatcomprises polymer layers and steel carcass or armour layers.

FIGS. 1b and 1c show S-configuration risers 10, which are characterisedby a subsea arch or buoy 22 that is anchored to the seabed 12 to supportthe hogbend 20. Specifically, FIG. 1b shows a riser 10 with a steep-Sconfiguration, in which the riser 10 is restrained at the TDP 18,whereas FIG. 1c shows a riser 10 with a lazy-S configuration, in whichthe riser 10 is not restrained at the TDP 18.

The complexity of installing S-configuration risers means thatwave-configuration risers 10 are preferred where possible, assuming thata simpler free-hanging catenary is not practical. Wave-configurationrisers support the hogbend 20 with buoyancy attached to the riser 10.

In this respect, a steep-wave riser 10 is shown in FIG. 1d , a lazy-waveriser 10 is shown in FIG. 1e and a pliant-wave riser 10 is shown in FIG.1 f. In these wave-configuration risers 10, buoyancy is added along asubstantial length of the riser 10 to modify the curvature of the riser10 and hence to define the shape, size and position of the hogbend 20.Optionally, weight may be added to the riser 10 at either end of thehogbend 20 to achieve a desired waveform shape.

Conventionally, buoyancy is added to a riser 10 by attaching a series ofbuoyancy modules 24 that are spaced along the length of the hogbend 20as shown in FIGS. 1d, 1e, 1f and also in FIG. 2.

Buoyancy modules 24 have to be clamped tightly to the riser 10 to avoidany longitudinal slippage that could adversely affect the desired shapeof the riser 10 or concentrate stresses in the riser 10. For thispurpose, a two-part tubular clamp 26 is shown to the left in FIG. 2being assembled around the riser 10. Once assembled, the clamp 26 issurrounded with, and engaged by, part-tubular buoyancy elements 28 asshown in the middle of FIG. 2. Once the buoyancy elements 28 have beenassembled together around the clamp 26, the buoyancy elements 28 areheld together by encircling straps 30 as shown to the right in FIG. 2.The buoyancy elements 28 are typically made of syntactic foam.

Buoyancy modules are assembled in turn on a pipelaying vessel whenprogressively overboarding or launching a riser. At least two workersare required to assemble the buoyancy modules around the riser. It isessential to mitigate any safety risk involved in placing workers soclose to the firing line of the vessel, which could expose them to anyunpredictable movements of the riser or the vessel.

A lazy-wave riser installation project may involve assembling andinstalling more than one hundred buoyancy modules per riser, with anaverage assembly time of around thirty minutes per module. The operationof assembling the buoyancy modules is on the critical path and delaysthe installation operation because the vessel has to be stopped forworkers to assemble each module. Such delays are undesirable becausepipelaying vessels are valuable capital assets that rely upon theavailability of a limited weather window and are extremely expensive tooperate.

Traditional methods that involve attaching buoyancy modules to a riserat the surface can only be employed in favourable sea states, asotherwise there is a risk of damage due to compression at the top of theriser. Mitigating this issue may require the installation of adeadweight, which increases the risks and costs of the project.

EP 0330584 and WO 2016/139457 exemplify conventional techniques forgenerating a hogbend and GB 2448398 exemplifies a conventional techniquefor coupling buoyancy modules to a riser. WO 2012/172305 teaches thatthe location and shape of a hogbend can be modified by changing theposition of buoyancy modules along a riser.

WO 2011/014651 proposes installing buoyancy modules underwater byclamping them to a riser using an ROV. This proposal is complex andimpractical, especially in deep water. Numerous buoyancy modules may berequired, which would require correspondingly numerous trips between thesurface and the riser.

In some cases, exemplified by U.S. Pat. No. 4,400,110, a pre-definedbuoyant arch is manufactured to support the hogbend region of a riser.Such arches are used especially in anchored S-configuration risers asshown in FIGS. 1b and 1 c. JP H05164271 discloses a combination of anarch and of buoys. WO 2007/017574 teaches that a lifting buoy may becombined with a bend-limiting device. However, installing an arch or asimilar supporting structure is complex; also, transporting and liftingsuch a structure requires a large and expensive vessel to be available.

GB 2393426 proposes buoyancy apparatus that is configured to overcomedisadvantages associated with using syntactic-foam based modules.

It is against this background that the present invention has beendevised. In one sense, the invention resides in a method of installing asubsea riser. The method comprises: placing an elongate support on theseabed; when laying the riser on the seabed, guiding a portion of theriser onto the support to extend along and be cradled by the support;and forming a hogbend region of the riser by conferring positivebuoyancy on the support to lift the support and the riser portion awayfrom the seabed.

Advantageously, the support may bend along its length to conform tocurvature of the hogbend region, for example by successive elements ofthe support being allowed to pivot relative to each other. In that case,pivotal movement between successive elements is preferably constrainedto being about a substantially horizontal pivot axis. More generally,the support may be lowered into the sea ready-assembled or may beassembled from elements on the seabed.

The riser portion may conveniently be cradled in an upwardly-openinggroove formation of the support. In that case, advantageously, the riserportion can enter the groove formation from above as the riser is beinglaid. The riser portion may be held in the groove formation by virtue ofgravity and tension acting on the riser, balanced against buoyantupthrust acting on the support.

The support may be held against movement along the riser by frictionalengagement and/or by mechanical engagement between the support and theriser portion. In the latter case, one or more engagement formations maybe attached to the riser portion after the riser portion has been guidedonto the support.

Advantageously, when conferring positive buoyancy on the support,buoyant upthrust may be applied to the support on opposite sides of theriser portion. For balance, the buoyant upthrust may be applied to thesupport substantially equally on the opposite sides of the riserportion. For stability, the buoyant upthrust suitably acts throughcentres of buoyancy on the opposite sides of the riser portion that areat a level above a centre of gravity of the riser portion.

Positive buoyancy is preferably conferred on the support substantiallysimultaneously on the opposite sides of the riser portion. For example,ballast may be removed from the support on the opposite sides of theriser portion at the same time. This may be achieved by detaching orexpelling ballast, for example by injecting and distributing adeballasting fluid such as a gas between the opposite sides of the riserportion to displace ballast water. Conveniently, a flow of thedeballasting fluid may be introduced into the support through an inletand then the flow may be divided between the opposite sides of the riserportion.

The invention allows different vessels to be used for laying the riser,for placing the support and/or for conferring positive buoyancy on thesupport. In particular, the vessel or vessels used for placing thesupport and/or for conferring positive buoyancy on the support need notbe equipped for, or indeed capable of, laying the riser.

Correspondingly, the inventive concept embraces a hogbend supportelement for a subsea riser. The support element comprises a risersupport disposed in a longitudinally-extending open-ended gap betweenbuoyancy volumes that are disposed on opposite sides of the gap. Thebuoyancy volumes may be separate from each other, conjoined with eachother or in fluid communication with each other.

The support element further comprises coupling formations on at leastone end for coupling to a like support element. For example, thecoupling formations may be arranged for hinged connection tocomplementary coupling formations of the like support element. Thearrangement is such that the gaps of the coupled support elements willalign to define an upwardly-opening, longitudinally-extending groove.

Preferably, the buoyancy volumes are substantially symmetrical about anupright longitudinal plane that extends along the riser support. To aidstability, each buoyancy volume may have a centre of buoyancy that is ata level above a base of the riser support. The centres of buoyancy ofthe buoyancy volumes are suitably horizontally opposed at substantiallythe same level as each other.

The riser support is conveniently suspended between the buoyancyvolumes. For example, the riser support may be defined by a band thatextends across the gap between the buoyancy volumes. It is also possiblefor the riser support to be formed integrally with the buoyancy volumes.

The riser support suitably has downwardly-converging walls, which mayfor example be at an angle of from 50° to 80° to the horizontal.

The support element may comprise an inlet for a deballasting fluids suchas a gas, in fluid communication with both of the buoyancy volumes. Inthat case, a manifold may be provided between the inlet and the buoyancyvolumes for distributing an incoming flow of the deballasting fluid.

The inventive concept extends to a hogbend support that comprises atleast two of the hogbend support elements of the invention, coupledtogether end-to-end. Buoyancy volumes of different support elements ofthe hogbend support may be in fluid communication with each other.

The inventive also concept extends to a subsea riser made by the methodof the invention, or incorporating at least one support element of theinvention or the hogbend support of the invention positioned under ahogbend region of the riser. The riser of the invention is apt to be ofa wave configuration, such as a lazy-wave configuration.

The invention proposes an alternative solution to simplify themanufacture and installation of a subsea riser, especially by avoidingthe need to install buoyancy modules aboard an installation vessel andhence saving time.

Embodiments of the invention provide a buoyant structure for supportingthe hogbend region of a wave riser such as a flexible pipeline. Thestructure comprises: at least two support elements hinged togetheraround a horizontal axis, each support element comprising at least asupport frame, at least two distinct buoyancy tanks and a longitudinalsupport slot, wherein the longitudinal support slot is located betweenthe buoyancy tanks.

The longitudinal support slot is preferably lower than the centres ofbuoyancy of the buoyancy tanks.

The buoyancy tanks of a support element may be fluidly connectedtogether by at least one line. Similarly, the buoyancy tanks of thebuoyant structure may be fluidly connected together by at least oneline.

At least one buoyancy tank of the buoyant structure may comprise a portfor deballasting and/or at least one check valve for disposal of ballastwater into the sea.

Advantageously, the longitudinal support slot may have adownwardly-narrowing funnelled shape for guiding the riser into theslot. The longitudinal support slot is suitably manufactured from, ordefined by, a material that has a high coefficient of friction or may becoated with such a material.

Embodiments of the invention implement a method for installing a waveriser, the method comprising: manufacturing a buoyancy structurecomprising at least one buoyancy tank and a slot for receiving a riser;laying the buoyancy structure on the seabed, the buoyancy tanks of thebuoyancy structure being flooded with water; laying the riser on theseabed and, during laying, positioning a hogbend region of the riseracross the buoyancy structure; and deballasting the buoyancy structureto lift the hogbend region of the riser above the seabed.

The operations of laying the buoyancy structure and laying the riser areapt to be performed by distinct vessels.

The buoyancy structure is suitably articulated to impart a reversecurvature to the riser when buoyant.

The upthrust of the ballast tanks of the buoyancy structure may bepre-determined so that the optimum reverse curvature shape is obtainedwhen all the ballast tanks are fully filled with gas.

Deballasting may comprise connecting a downline to at least one buoyancytank of the buoyancy structure and expelling ballast water with a gassuch as air or nitrogen.

The invention is designed primarily for use in installing lazy-waverisers of flexible pipe. However, the invention could be used with anyS-configuration or wave-configuration riser, for example by adding amooring system, and with any type of pipeline, whether of rigid pipe,flexible pipe or polymer composite pipe.

The invention makes it feasible to install a set of buoyancy modules ona riser pipe or on a similar elongate subsea element using a low-costvessel such as a supply vessel, a light construction vessel or ananchor-handling tug. Also, the buoyancy modules of the invention may beless expensive than equivalent traditional buoyancy modules.

The operation of providing buoyancy can be performed off the criticalpath of the pipelaying operation. Also, no deadweight is required tocontrol the operation, which improves project operability.

The whole buoyancy structure could be pre-assembled on a deck of asurface vessel before installation, hence removing the need to placeworkers near the structure during installation.

During installation, a low-cost vessel first deploys a buoyancystructure onto the seabed. The buoyancy structure comprises supportelements that are assembled to provide the length and upthrust requiredto support the riser. At least some buoyancy tanks of the supportelements are flooded to maintain negative buoyancy. Next, a pipelayvessel pays out a riser pipe over the buoyancy structure. Finally, alow-cost vessel deballasts the buoyancy tanks by injection of air tolift the buoyancy structure and the riser from the seabed.

In summary, the invention resides in a method of installing a subseariser that comprises placing an elongate negatively-buoyant support onthe seabed and, when laying the riser on the seabed, guiding a riserportion onto the support to extend along and be cradled by the support.A hogbend region of the riser is then formed by conferring positivebuoyancy on the support to lift the support and the riser portion awayfrom the seabed.

The invention also resides in an element of the support, which elementcomprises a riser support that is disposed in a longitudinally-extendingopen-ended gap between buoyancy volumes disposed on opposite sides ofthe gap. Coupling formations such as hinge portions can couple theelement to a like element. When so coupled, the gaps of those elementsalign to define an upwardly-opening, longitudinally-extending groove toreceive the riser.

To put the invention into context, reference has already been made toFIGS. 1 and 2 of the accompanying drawings. In those drawings:

FIGS. 1a to 1f are simplified schematic side views that exemplifyvarious known riser configurations; and

FIG. 2 is a perspective view that shows how a known buoyancy module isassembled around and secured to a riser.

In order that the invention may be more readily understood, referencewill now be made, by way of example, to the remaining drawings in which:

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a support element of the invention, fromabove and one end;

FIG. 4 is a top plan view of the support element shown in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is an end view of the support element shown in FIGS. 3 and 4;

FIG. 6 is a bottom plan view of the support element shown in FIGS. 3 to5;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view from above and one end of a series ofsupport elements shown in FIGS. 3 to 6, joined together end-to-end andlanded on the seabed;

FIG. 8 is a top plan view of the series of support elements shown inFIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a perspective view from above and one side of the series ofsupport elements shown in FIGS. 7 and 8;

FIG. 10 is a perspective view from above and one end of the series ofsupport elements corresponding to FIG. 7 but now showing a riser laidalong and supported by the elements;

FIG. 11 is a top plan view of the series of support elements supportingthe riser as shown in FIG. 10;

FIG. 12 is a perspective view from above and one side of the series ofsupport elements supporting the riser as shown in FIGS. 10 and 11;

FIGS. 13a, 13b and 13c are a sequence of schematic cross-sectional viewsthat show how water may be displaced from a support element to lift theriser above the seabed;

FIG. 14 is a perspective view from above and one end of the series ofsupport elements supporting the riser as shown in FIG. 10 but nowproviding positively buoyant support to lift the riser above the seabed;

FIG. 15 is a top plan view of the series of support elements lifting theriser above the seabed as shown in FIG. 14;

FIG. 16 is a side view of the series of support elements lifting theriser above the seabed as shown in FIGS. 14 and 15;

FIGS. 17 and 18 are perspective views that show an installationsequence, or how multiple risers may be installed in paralleloperations;

FIGS. 19a and 19b are a sequence of schematic top plan views of avariant of the invention, showing a riser placed on a series of supportelements as shown in FIGS. 3 to 6 being located axially relative tothose support elements; and

FIG. 20 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a further variant of theinvention in which a support element comprises a single buoyancy tank.

Where appropriate, like numerals are used for like features in thedescription that follows.

Referring firstly to FIGS. 3 to 6 of the drawings, a support element 32of the invention comprises a truss beam frame 34, which is generallyrectangular in plan view, and a pair of buoyancy tanks 36 that aremounted on the frame 34. The buoyancy tanks 36 are joined by a risersupport 38 that spans a gap between them. Coupling formations 40 extendlongitudinally from opposite ends of the frame 34.

The support element 32 is substantially symmetrical about an uprightcentral plane 42, shown in FIG. 5, which contains a central longitudinalaxis 44 shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. Thus, the buoyancy tanks 36 aresubstantially identical to each other in their size and shape and arespaced apart from each other about the central plane 42.

Both of the buoyancy tanks 36 are generally cylindrical and of circularcross-section in this example. The buoyancy tanks 36 extend along, andare rotationally symmetrical about, respective central axes 46 as shownin FIG. 5. The central axes 46 are parallel to, and spaced equally from,the central plane 42. In this example, the centres of buoyancy of thebuoyancy tanks 36 lie on the central axes 46.

The buoyancy tanks 36 are thin-walled, hollow structures that do notneed to withstand substantial differential pressure because theirinternal pressure will substantially balance hydrostatic pressure inuse. The buoyancy tanks 36 could be made of steel, polymer or polymercomposite material.

The riser support 38 is a curved sheet or band that is attached to thespaced-apart buoyancy tanks 36 and hangs down into the gap between themwith a sinuous waveform shape. Specifically, the riser support 38extends between peaks 48 at the top of the buoyancy tanks 36 via acentral trough 50. In doing so, the curvature of the riser support 38,as viewed from above, changes from convex at the peaks 48 to concavearound the trough 50. The lowest point of the riser support 38, definedby the trough 50, lies on the central plane 42 as shown in FIG. 5.

The riser support 38 is in contact with the buoyancy tanks 36 aroundalmost a quarter of their circumference and then hangs freely as acatenary that extends between the buoyancy tanks 36 and the trough 50.The free-hanging side walls of the riser support 38 are inclined steeplyat an angle of substantially greater than 45° to the horizontal andpreferably at between 70° and 80° to the horizontal as shown. The trough50 is at a level substantially lower than the central axes 46 of thebuoyancy tanks 36, just above the top of the frame 34 that also extendsacross the gap between the buoyancy tanks 36.

Advantageously, the riser support 38 has sufficient flexibility toconform to the cross-sectional size and shape of a riser 10 supported bythe riser support 38, as will be shown from FIG. 10 onwards.Additionally, the riser support 38 may be of a high-grip material or maybe coated on at least its upper surface with a high-grip material. Ahigh-grip material may be resilient, may have a high coefficient offriction or may be textured to improve frictional or mechanicalengagement with a riser supported by the riser support 38. This resistslongitudinal slippage of the support element 32 along the riser in use.

The coupling formations 40 at one end of the frame 34 complement thecoupling formations 40 at the other end of the frame 34. Thus, when twoor more support elements 32 are engaged with each other end-to-end,their coupling formations 40 co-operate to form joints that coupletogether those support elements 32 in series as a group, set or array. Alinear array 52 is shown in FIGS. 7 to 9, which comprises a row of fivesupport elements 32 whose frames 34 are joined together end-to-end viathe coupling formations 40.

The coupling formations 40 are configured to allow relative pivotalmovement between successive support elements 32 of the array 52. Thus,the array 52 is an articulated spine structure, of which the supportelements 32 are vertebral segments. In this example, the couplingformations 40 are complementary hinge portions that form a completehinge when they are brought together and joined by a transverse pin. Inother examples, the coupling formations could form flexible joints thatflex to allow similar relative pivotal movement. In any event, therelative pivotal movement between successive support elements 32 ispreferably confined to a pivot axis that is substantially orthogonal tothe central plane 42. This resists twisting of the array 52 along itslength.

It will be apparent from FIGS. 7 and 8, especially, that the risersupports 38 of the support elements 32 in the array 52 align along thecentral plane 42. The riser supports 38 define a series of parallelstraps or bands that are each suspended like a hammock between thesuccessive pairs of buoyancy tanks 36. The riser supports 38 cooperateto define an elongate cradle 54 that extends along the array 52 like asubstantially straight trench or groove between the buoyancy tanks 36.

The array 52 is shown in FIGS. 7 to 9 with the frames 34 of its supportelements 32 resting on the seabed 12. For this purpose, the buoyancytanks 36 are ballasted by being flooded with seawater to confer negativebuoyancy on the array 52. The array 52 is oriented on the seabed 12 suchthat the cradle 54 defined by the successive riser supports 38 isaligned with the desired position and direction of a riser 10 to beinstalled subsequently.

In this respect, FIGS. 10 to 12 show a riser 10 now laid on the seabed12 and extending over, along and beyond the array 52. The riser 10 isreceived in the cradle 54, where the riser 10 rests on theconcave-curved bases of the riser supports 38. As the riser 10 touchesdown during laying, the upwardly-splayed shape of the riser supports 38and the convex inwardly-steepening curvature of their upper portionsguides the riser 10 into engagement with the cradle 54.

A specialist pipelaying vessel is required to lay the riser 10 but adifferent, smaller and less expensive vessel could be used to place thearray 52 of support elements 32 onto the seabed 12 before the riser 10is laid. For example, the array 52 could be assembled on the seabed 12by lowering separate support elements 32 in succession and joining themtogether underwater with the assistance of an ROV. Alternatively, thearray 52 could be assembled above, at or near to the surface 14 and thenlowered to the seabed 12 as an assembly.

FIGS. 13a, 13b and 13c show an example of how the support elements 32 ofthe array 52 may be deballasted to apply localised upthrust to the riser10, thereby to generate a hogbend 20 in the riser 10 as shown in FIGS.14 to 16. To do so, the buoyancy tanks 36 of the support elements 32 aredeballasted by expelling ballast water 56 from within them. This conferssufficient positive buoyancy on the array 52 that the array 52 will liftbuoyantly away from the seabed 12, carrying a length of the riser 10with it. Positive buoyancy means that buoyancy force exceeds weight,thus generating the required upthrust.

A gas 58 such as air or nitrogen is injected into the ballast tanks 36through a non-return valve 60 to displace water 56 from the ballasttanks 36 and into the surrounding sea through respective non-returnvalves 62. In this example, the gas 58 is injected via a downline 64that is shown in FIG. 13a approaching docking engagement with an inlet66. Gas 58 could instead be injected from a subsea pump, which could becarried by or integrated with an ROV. A low-density liquid such askerosene may be used instead of a gas 58 as a deballasting fluid and mayalso be supplied via a downline 64.

In any case, deballasting can be performed with the support of a vesselthat is much smaller and less expensive than a pipelaying vessel.

A manifold 68 connects the ballast tanks 36 of a support element 32 toeach other for fluid communication to distribute the incoming gas 58between them. This allows gas 58 to be introduced, conveniently, througha single inlet 66 while ensuring that the ballast tanks 36 willdeballast in unison to avoid any imbalance in their buoyant upthrust.Similarly, the ballast tanks 36 of different support elements 32 may befluidly connected to each other to balance upthrust along the length ofthe array 52.

When the downline 64 has been coupled with the inlet 66 as shown in FIG.13b , gas 58 is injected into the ballast tanks 36 through the manifold68. When sufficient water 56 has been displaced from the ballast tanks36, the array 52 acquires positive buoyancy and lifts away from theseabed 12 as shown in FIG. 13c . This also lifts the length of the riser10 that lies in the cradle 54 of the array 52 away from the seabed 12.

FIGS. 14 to 16 show how the length of the riser 10 that lies in thecradle 54 of the array 52 becomes part of the hogbend 20. The buoyantarray 52 adopts a convex curvature, when viewed from above, to match thecurvature of the hogbend 20. To allow this, the support elements 32hinge relative to each other about the joints formed by theirinterconnected coupling formations 40.

FIGS. 17 and 18 show the steps of a riser installation operation inaccordance with the invention, in sequence from left to right.Initially, a single support element 32 is laid on the seabed 12 and thenis assembled with similar support elements 32 to form a linear array 52.Next, a riser 10 is laid along the array 52 and finally the array 52 isdeballasted to lift the hogbend 20 of the riser 10 away from the seabed12. Chronologically, those steps may be performed in sequence or inparallel, using different vessels to save time and cost.

FIGS. 19a and 19b show a variant of the invention that takes a differentapproach to axial location to resist slippage between the array 52 andthe riser 10. FIG. 19a shows the riser 10 laid in the cradle 54 definedby the array 52. FIG. 19b shows radially-projecting locating formations70 mounted on the riser 10 to fit between the support elements 32 of thearray 52. These locating formations 70 bear against a neighbouringsupport element to limit relative axial movement between the array 52and the riser 10.

The locating formations 70 could be assembled around and clamped to theriser 10 in the manner of the clamps 26 that are shown in FIG. 2. One ormore locating formations 70 could, in principle, be attached to theriser 10 aboard an installation vessel but are preferably attached tothe riser 10 underwater, for example by an ROV, to take the operationoff the critical path of the pipelaying operation. Other arrangements toeffect mechanical axial engagement between the riser 10 and the array 52are possible. For example, locating formations could be formedintegrally with the riser 10.

Turning finally to FIG. 20, this shows a support element 72 that is avariant of the support element 32 shown in the preceding drawings.Provisions to inject deballasting fluid and to expel ballasting waterare not shown in this simplified view but could correspond to thoseshown in FIGS. 13a to 13 c.

The support element 72 shown in FIG. 20 has a single buoyancy chamber 74that is supported by a base frame 34. The buoyancy chamber 74 issubstantially symmetrical about a central plane 42, comprising enlargedconjoined lobes 76 that are spaced apart by a groove 78 between them toreceive and cradle a riser 10.

In this example, the upwardly-facing surfaces of the lobes 76 and thegroove 78 largely follow the shape of the corresponding surfaces of thebuoyancy tanks 36 and the riser support 38 of the preceding embodiment.However, other cross-sectional shapes are possible. In general, it isdesirable that the groove 78 extends low enough to support the riser 10with its centre of gravity at a level substantially beneath the centreof buoyancy of the support element 72 as defined by theupwardly-projecting lobes 76 of the buoyancy chamber 74.

Many other variations are possible within the inventive concept. Forexample, the frames of the support elements need not be fully rigid butcould instead be at least partially flexible. Such flexibility could aidbending of the array along its length so as to conform to the shape ofthe hogbend. Nor is it essential for a flexible support to comprisemultiple elements.

The support elements of the array need not confer the same degree ofpositive buoyancy along the full length of the array. For example,greater buoyancy could be concentrated near the middle of the array thanat the ends of the array. This could be achieved in various ways, forexample by having larger buoyancy elements where more buoyancy isrequired or by removing less ballast from buoyancy elements where lessbuoyancy is required.

Similarly, it is not essential that buoyancy is distributed regularlywith equal spacing along the array. For example, there could beirregular longitudinal spacing between the support elements.

At least some of the buoyancy of the array could be contributed byelements that have fixed buoyancy, such as modules of syntactic foam.One or more elements with variable buoyancy, such as ballast tanks,could then be used to establish overall negative, neutral or positivebuoyancy of the array as may be required. This would helpfully reducethe volume of deballasting fluid that is required to confer overallpositive buoyancy on the array.

In principle, it is not essential for deballasting to requiredisplacement of water with a gas or other liquid. For example, a ballastmaterial that is denser than water could be released from the array toestablish sufficient positive buoyancy to lift the hogbend region of ariser above the seabed. Such a ballast material could be in the form ofone or more clump weights, or in the form of a particulate or otherwiseflowable mass.

In some riser configurations, the array could be tethered to ananchoring foundation on the seabed.

Provision may be made to re-ballast at least some elements of the arrayso as to control or reverse the installation process, for example tolower the hogbend toward the seabed on decommissioning the riser.

1-39. (canceled)
 40. A method of installing a subsea riser, comprising: placing an elongate support on the seabed; when laying the riser on the seabed, guiding a riser portion onto the support to extend along and be cradled by the support; and forming a hogbend region of the riser by conferring positive buoyancy on the support to lift the support and the riser portion away from the seabed.
 41. The method of claim 40, comprising cradling the riser portion in an upwardly-opening groove formation of the support.
 42. The method of claim 41, wherein the riser portion enters the groove formation from above as the riser is being laid.
 43. The method of claim 41, comprising holding the riser portion in the groove formation by virtue of gravity and tension acting on the riser against buoyant upthrust acting on the support.
 44. The method of claim 40, comprising holding the support against movement along the riser by frictional engagement between the support and the riser portion.
 45. The method of claim 40, comprising holding the support against movement along the riser by mechanical engagement between the support and the riser portion.
 46. The method of claim 45, comprising attaching one or more engagement formations to the riser portion after guiding the riser portion onto the support.
 47. The method of claim 40, comprising applying buoyant upthrust to the support on opposite sides of the riser portion when conferring positive buoyancy on the support.
 48. The method of claim 47, wherein the buoyant upthrust is applied to the support substantially equally on the opposite sides of the riser portion.
 49. The method of claim 47, wherein the buoyant upthrust acts through centres of buoyancy on the opposite sides of the riser portion, which centres of buoyancy are above a centre of gravity of the riser portion.
 50. The method of claim 47, comprising conferring positive buoyancy substantially simultaneously on the opposite sides of the riser portion.
 51. The method of claim 50, comprising removing ballast from the support on the opposite sides of the riser portion.
 52. The method of claim 51, comprising distributing a deballasting fluid between the opposite sides of the riser portion.
 53. The method of claim 52, comprising introducing a flow of the deballasting fluid into the support through an inlet and then dividing the flow between the opposite sides of the riser portion.
 54. The method of claim 40, comprising bending the support along its length to conform to curvature of the hogbend region.
 55. The method of claim 54, comprising bending the support by pivoting rigid elements of the support relative to each other.
 56. The method of claim 55, comprising constraining movement between the elements to pivotal movement about a substantially horizontal pivot axis.
 57. The method of claim 40, comprising assembling the support from elements on the seabed.
 58. The method of claim 40, comprising laying the riser using a different vessel to that used for placing the support and/or for conferring positive buoyancy on the support.
 59. The method of claim 58, wherein the vessel used for placing the support and/or for conferring positive buoyancy on the support is not equipped for laying the riser.
 60. A hogbend support for a subsea riser, the hogbend support comprising at least two hogbend support elements that are coupled end-to-end to allow relative pivotal movement, each support element comprising: a riser support disposed in a longitudinally extending open-ended gap between buoyancy volumes of the support element that are disposed on opposite sides of the gap; and coupling formations on at least one end of the support element for coupling the support element to a like support element to allow relative pivotal movement between the coupled support elements, so that the gaps of those coupled support elements align to define an upwardly opening, longitudinally extending groove.
 61. The support of claim 60, wherein the buoyancy volumes are substantially symmetrical about an upright longitudinal plane that extends along the riser support.
 62. The support of claim 60, wherein each buoyancy volume has a centre of buoyancy at a level above a base of the riser support.
 63. The support of claim 60, wherein the riser support is suspended between the buoyancy volumes.
 64. The support of claim 63, wherein the riser support is defined by a band that extends sinuously across the gap between the buoyancy volumes.
 65. The support of claim 60, wherein the riser support is formed integrally with the buoyancy volumes.
 66. The support of claim 60, wherein the riser support has downwardly converging walls.
 67. The support of claim 66, wherein the walls of the riser support are at an angle of from 50° to 80° to the horizontal.
 68. The support of claim 60, wherein the coupling formations are arranged for hinged connection to complementary coupling formations of a like support element.
 69. The support of claim 60, wherein each support element further comprises an inlet for deballasting fluid, in fluid communication with both of the buoyancy volumes.
 70. The support of claim 69, wherein each support element further comprises a manifold between the inlet and the buoyancy volumes for distributing an incoming flow of the deballasting fluid.
 71. The support of claim 60, wherein the buoyancy volumes of each support element are separate from each other.
 72. The support of claim 60, wherein the buoyancy volumes of each support element are conjoined with each other.
 73. The support of claim 60, wherein the buoyancy volumes of each support element are in fluid communication with each other.
 74. The support of claim 60, wherein buoyancy volumes of different support elements are in fluid communication with each other.
 75. A subsea riser made by the method of claim
 40. 76. The riser of claim 75, being of wave configuration.
 77. The riser of claim 76, being of lazy-wave configuration.
 78. A subsea riser incorporating the support of claim 60 positioned under a hogbend region of the riser.
 79. The riser of claim 78, being of wave configuration.
 80. The riser of claim 79, being of lazy-wave configuration. 